University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Duquesne
Riggi, Mahoney Lead Richmond's Rally Past Duquesne, 11-10
04/20/2007 | Baseball
April 20, 2007
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Vince Riggi hammered a three-run home run to break an 8-8 tie in the eighth as Richmond rallied to beat Duquesne, 11-10, at Duquesne Field in Pittsburgh, Pa. Friday afternoon. Joe Mahoney had a career-best five hits and five RBI as the Spiders improved to 23-16 overall and 11-2 in the Atlantic 10.
Riggi's fifth homer of the season capped a furious Richmond rally over the final three innings, after the visitors found themselves trailing 8-4 through six innings. Mahoney's big day at the plate included a three-run homer that put Richmond on the board first and a two-RBI single in the eighth that tied the game. The junior was five-for-six on the day.
Closer Brian Alas came on post his conference-leading 12th save of the season, but worked his way out of a bases-loaded situation in the eighth and saw the first two reach in the ninth before shutting the door. He fanned four and allowed three hits and two runs in two innings of work.
A two-out rally by the Spiders in the top of the seventh sliced the Duquesne lead in half to 8-6. After starter Jeff Naughton retired the first two, he plunked Austin Reilly, allowed a Mahoney single and walked Riggi to load the bases. Alex Wotring welcomed reliever Gary Pierpont to the game by ripping a two-run single over his head to center field.
The Spiders drew first blood as Mahoney pounded a towering three-run home run over the fence in right centerfield. His team-leading 10th homer of the season scored Benji Marshall and Reilly, who each drew walks to lead the game off.
After Naughton settled in following a 30-pitch first inning, the Dukes (13-19, 4-9) took advantage with four runs in the bottom of the second. Bill Torre singled home a run and three more scored on an error by Richmond RF Matt McKenna to put the home team up 4-3.
Marshall factored in the equalizer, scoring from third on a Riggi sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth. He led off the inning by extending his hit streak to nine games and was moved to third on Mahoney's double down the left field line.
Richmond starter Matt Zielinski was chased in the bottom of the sixth after Duquesne reclaimed the lead at 5-4. Torre ripped a double down the left line to scored Brian Bernardo from second. The Dukes would extend the lead to 8-4, thanks to a three-run homer to center field by Aaron Janusey.
Zielinski went 5.1 innings and allowed eight hits and six runs (three earned) with three strikeouts. Reliever Chris Sullivan (1-2) was credited with his first win of the season. He went 1.2 innings with two hits and two runs. Keith Meyer (1-2) was tagged with the loss.
Riggi finished the day two-for-three and drove in four. Torre went four-for-five for Duquesne. The three-hour, 55 minute game - Richmond's longest of the season - saw the Spiders pound out 11 hits and the Dukes collect 13.
The teams return to action tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET.
